Wind Concerns Ontario is a province-wide advocacy organization whose mission is to provide information on the potential impact of industrial-scale wind power generation on the economy, human health, and the natural environment.

Home in Huron County: the Minister says claims of health effects from turbine noise are “bogus” but his staff say different [Photo Gary Moon]Last week, following a report by Global News based on information obtained by Wind Concerns Ontario, there was a barrage of questions in Question Period at Queen’s Park on wind power projects and related issues, including reports of adverse health effects from exposure to the noise emissions from the power generators.

In response to a question from MPP Laurie Scott of Haliburton-Kawartha-Brock, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray tossed back:

This government spent a considerable amount of money hiring the leading experts and doing medical research, as did the federal government, and found out the totality of the opposition party’s claims were completely bogus and like so much, not science-based.

In fact, the “science” the Minister Murray refers to, including the Health Canada study, supports concerns about adverse health effects from wind turbine noise, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario produced a brief review in 2010 that concluded that there were significant gaps in the information available at that time (seven years ago) and that actual noise measurement was needed.

But what the Minister seems not to know, says Wind Concerns Ontario, is that his own staff are aware of people experiencing health effects from wind turbine noise, according to official staff notes included in the information received n the Freedom of Information request. That information consisted of 3,180 Incident Reports and 100 Master Incident reports; several of the Master files contain dozens of reports to the government about the turbine noise and vibration, and include staff observations.

“It is very disturbing that a Minister of the Crown could be so dismissive of the health concerns of Ontario citizens,” Wind Concerns Ontario president Jane Wilson wrote in a letter to Minister Murray, sent yesterday. “While the view that there is no link between wind turbine noise emissions and any health effects may be that of the wind power development industry and its trade association, it is not supported by the Master Incident complaint records that your Ministry released to Wind Concerns Ontario via a request under Freedom of Information legislation.”

Of the 100 Master files, 59 contain specific reference to health complaints, Wilson said, chiefly loss of sleep, headache, and feelings of “pressure.” Some people reported not having slept for weeks, due to the noise.

“It is therefore completely inaccurate to say that there are no health effects from wind turbine noise in Ontario,” Wind Concerns advised the Minister.

In several records, staff noted that wind turbine noise exceeded regulations: ““Staff have attended at the complainants homes on multiple occasions … noise measurements were obtained…subjective observations were made by Provincial Officers…the conclusion of the POs were that the noise emissions from the wind turbines were causing an adverse effect contrary to S. 14 (1) of the EPA at the complainants locations…”

““…the conclusions of the Provincial Officers who conducted the inspections that the sound discharged into the natural environment by the wind turbines would cause an adverse effect…” was the staff note in another official record.

Wind Concerns Ontario, a coalition of 30 community groups and individuals and families, is asking that no new Renewable Energy Approvals be granted to wind power projects — five projects received contracts in 2016 but which do not have approval yet from the Environment Ministry.

“You have to ask why the government is treating the wind power industry and these huge corporations differently from other businesses,” Wilson says. “If this were any other product or service, with thousands of complaints, there would be a halt to exposure… instead, the Ontario government refers to the wind corporations as its ‘client’. We think the government should answer to the people of Ontario.”

Comments

It’s time for open letters to be written to Minister Glen Murray, from all of the communities where harm is still being experienced from turbines near homes and farms. These open letters need to be circulated widely so that the people of Ontario will no longer be deceived. These letters need to contain concise statements regarding the truth about the harm being experienced because the MOECC, currently under the direction of Minister Murray, has failed their duty to protect rural residents.
This has clearly been an ‘industry led, government enabled’ fiasco.
Now is the time….

In the ERT decision on Erickson v. Director, Ministry of the Environment it was ruled that the evidence showed that wind turbines cause health problems, “This case has successfully shown that the debate should not be simplified to one about whether wind turbines can cause harm to humans. The evidence presented to the Tribunal demonstrates that they can, if facilities are placed too close to residents.”

“if facilities are placed too close to residents.” is the loophole the MOECC has used consistently. The policy protocol on placement was set at a specific distance and they have refused to acknowledge that this was a mistake. Residents have tried to tell them their policy on siting is wrong. We know now from the reporting of harm, that people whose homes are located a wide range of distances from turbines are experiencing harm.

Well said Jane and team. I also wrote Mr. Murray encouraging him to get in touch with his own team and further questioned whether the MoE standards are adequate, which I know them not to be. Unacceptable performance by this minister, failing in their most important mandate.

I think the time for discussion ran out years ago or these situations would have been dealt with years ago. The lies and deception tell me all I need to know about this government.
Good luck.
Stan Thayer

According to Huron County, they are still waiting on University of Waterloo for ethics approval. I have documented all my correspondence with Huron County on my web page,http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~mannr

A (legally mandated) Health Investigation was started in March 2016.
Since then there have been numerous delays. On May 12, 2017, Huron Health Board sent a letter claiming that they lack the authority to turn the turbines off.

“We’re working to expand trade in clean energy and the enormous potential; identify ways that Canada’s provinces can provide states with the clean energy supplies needed to meet carbon-reduction targets; and make the air cleaner and healthier on both sides of the border.”

Ya Barbara that’s what I’m talking about!!!! We pay top dollar so that the liberals clients’ clients can have cheap green hydro!!!
Mark my words when I say the this Lieberal government will impose rolling blackouts on all Ontarions if it’s clients’ clients require more power…. always important to keep the lieberals clients happy right!!??
Right now in Michigan they are negative power right now …. which means they need supply.. we will supply it… guaranteed ….. below market value…..

Hey Sommer…. spoke to a young chap the other day who’s beautiful country home is right under a proposed turdbine site in DD …..
He’s mad as ….. heck…. each month for the last 6 months he has written an open letter to premier wynnde…. every month for 6 months… he has heard nothing…. nothing…..
Stan…. there is no discussion out here… people can’t be heard cause they are not listening… there is no contact with our municipality…. were supose to just let the lieberals clients do as they wish!!!!
Its folks like that young family that are furiuos now…. just wait and see what happens when you treat people like that … I know those people…. I know pretty well every one of the families out here that have them turdbines going up around them…. furious ……. just furious…. just saying….

Lol…. Sommer….. there will be no rolling over!!! All these people are done trying to communicate to our government…. they have been ignored …. disrespected…. and treated like second class citizens….. these folks know that if THEY do not defend their property their ways of live out here it will be lost.. .. forever….
Our “proactive” choices to stop these projects are limited by the powers that be….

WARNING-these are the facts.
I am a certified electrical troubleshooter. Last Thursday June 22nd, 2017, I helped locate a power drain problem near Laval Quebec. One of the affected customers bill had gone from 89 dollars per month to about 212 dollors per month over the last 2 months. The hot water tank at a certain residence had filled with calcium buildup which allowed the power to pass through to ground. With regulated billing the amounts were kept reasonable given the circumstances. In Ontario for the same time period and current consumption the amount would have been’————-2376.00—per month, enough to put most families into bankruptcy. For two months before we found the problem it would have been——4752.00. Dollars.
Here’s the kick in the ass.
Ontario government pays Quebec Hydro to take our power and distribute it for free.
What more can I say!
Stan the power man.
Stan Thayer CET Alexandria Ontario